Count And Noncount Nouns

Count nouns are nouns that can be counted (e.g., a book, two friends, three cars, etc.). A count noun may be preceded by a or an in the singular; it takes a final -s or -es in the plural.


Noncount (or mass) nouns refer to things that cannot be counted (e.g., money, rain, snow, butter, wind, air, clothing, etc.). Noncount nouns are not preceded by a or an and have no plural form.


COMMON NONCOUNT NOUNS


advice               weather             equipment
news                  water                 jewelry
information        music               postage
work                  money              luggage


Some nouns can be both count and noncount nouns:


–We drank some wine. (Noncount)
–We ordered three wines. (Count)


(It is implicit that three different wines were ordered.)